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Henry Moore OM, CH1898–1986

Artist biography

Henry MOORE b. 1898

Sculptor in stone, wood and later in bronze, and draughtsman. Born 30 July 1898 at Castleford, Yorkshire, son of a miner. Taught at Castleford Grammar School 1916. Served in the army 1917–19. Resumed teaching 1919, but later the same year went to Leeds School of Art; at the R.C.A. On a scholarship 1921–4; first visit to Paris 1923; to France and Italy on a travelling scholarship 1925. Taught at the R.C.A. 1925–32, and at Chelsea School of Art 1932–9. First one-man show at the Warren Gallery 1928; has also exhibited at the Leicester Galleries, the Marlborough Fine Art, etc. First public commission for a relief on the Underground Building, St James's, 1928–9. Member of the London Group 1930–7, 7 & 5 Society 1932–5, National Society 1931–2, and Unit One 1933. Exhibited at the International Surrealist Exhibitions in London 1936 and Paris 1938. Visited Spain 1936, New York 1946, Greece 1951, Brazil and Mexico 1953, and Paris, Italy and other European countries on several occasions. Official War Artist 1940–2. Retrospective exhibitions at Temple Newsam, Leeds, 1941 and 1945, the U.S.A. 1946–7 and subsequently throughout the world, winning prizes at Venice 1948, São Paulo 1953 and Pittsburgh 1958. Trustee of the Tate Gallery 1941–8 and 1949–56, and of the National Gallery from 1956; member of the Art Panel of the Arts Council 1945–51 and member of the Royal Fine Art Commission, London, since 1947. Hon. A.R.I.B.A. 1948 and many similar honours; C.H. 1955, O.M. 1963.